new round of climate change talks

A new round of Climate Change talks kicks off in Bangkok this week.Not sure why but Penny Wong is not attending, instead Australia will be represented by a delegation, the talks must be pretty low level, but any progress will be important.Here is a quote from the Executive secretary of the United Nations Framework convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Yvo de Boer
“The challenge is to design a future agreement that will significantly step up action on adaptation, successfully halt the increase in global emissions within the next 10 to 15 years, dramatically cut back emissions by 2050, and do so in a way that is economically viable and politically equitable worldwide,” (UNFCCC).Here is a link to the UN News centre if you want more details.As has been discussed before, the key to these talks is participation from China and India, we need to give them enough to motivate them to agree to firm targets so that everone can be on the same page. Steering the talks in the direction of adaptation is a good start to achieving this goal. If we can focus on changing our behaviour and all working together the talks will be much more progressive. Here's hoping the US don't try to derail them this time, mind you it is pretty clear the next US President, whoever that will be, will have a much stronger mandate to be part of the Global solution.cheersLouie

Rough ride Ahead

Rough ride ahead

October 17th 2007 01:38

I have decided to get my Political Climate Change post out of the way early on in this election campaign and then try to stay out of the fray with maybe the odd comments as a P.S. here and there (here's hoping)

There is no doubt that Climate Change is an election issue, I was just on a Climate Change site where kevin07.com came up in the Google Adwords Ad, so Labor are clearly pulling out all stops to make it an election issue. As much as I am all for Climate Change awareness I can't help but secretly think that I don't want Climate Change to be an election issue, mainly because of the misleading statements that will inevitably be made.

Climate Change is an important issue and it would be a shame for all of us to lose sight of the FACTS. There has already been enough damage to the few good things we are doing e.g. the Collapse of the NSW NGAC System and the collapse of Companies like Easy Being Green. Much as I don't think these systems were doing enough they were better than the nothing we currently have during this political uncertainly: Liberal and Labor are GUILTY HERE

The best thing that can happen is for the Liberals to do what they alluded to last week i.e. say they will sign the new Version of Kyoto and that people would be AWESOME and should be the END OF CLIMATE CHANGE as an issue for this election campaign, let them slug it out on other issues.

Let's FACE IT PEOPLE they are preaching to the converted, hell even johnny Howard has backflipped on the issue.

OK thats it from me, you all know where I stand, here's hoping I can bury my head in the sand.

cheers

Louie

P.S. I do have thoughts on Climate Change and the noble Peace Prize on www.climateforum.com.au

Backflip almost entirely complete....

Backflip almost entirely complete....

October 11th 2007 06:10

It is being reported today that the Government via Malcolm Turnbull have said they may ratify the new version of the Kyoto Protocol in Nov/December.......hands up who is shocked....

Should be no-one, they have def been warming up to this complete 180 for some months now, to pledge to ratify this treaty is the Icing on the cake and even tho I hate talking politics it says to me that the Govt will call the election any Second now...they are just ironing out a few thorns in their side...as has been discussed before apparently polls say 86% of us care about this issue they have successfully messed up so you could call this issue a thorn....... here we go....the sooner its over and done with the better I say....

Just quietly my favourite bit is the fact that he thinks being part of a global Agreement is in the National Interest....hmmmmmm....

story below with link

Cheers

Louie

Really Long Link

Turnbull hints at ratifying new climate change agreement

Posted Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:39pm AEST
Updated Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:54pm AEST
Mr Turnbull says the Commonwealth is committed to an effective international agreement, if all the major emitters come on board.

Mr Turnbull says the Commonwealth is committed to an effective international agreement, if all the major emitters come on board. (AAP: Tracey Nearmy)

* Audio: Turnbull willing to ratify Kyoto's successor (PM)

Federal Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull has signalled Australia may ratify the next international climate change deal that comes into effect when the Kyoto Protocol expires.

Australia has refused to ratify Kyoto, but Mr Turnbull says the Commonwealth is committed to an effective international agreement, if all the major emitters come on board.

He says the move is in the national interest.

"We are committed to a new international climate change agreement which is environmentally effective," he said.

"To be environmentally effective, it will need contributions to those reductions from all the major emitting countries, be they in the developed or the developing world."

But Labor Environment Spokesman Peter Garrett says it is a huge about-face on the eve of an election.

"I've got to tell you, after listening to these people talk in disparaging terms about climate change action for over three years of being in the Parliament and prior to coming into the Parliament, I don't take the spin that comes from the Government all that seriously," he said.

Freezing your Butt off for Global Warming

reezing your butt off for Global Warming

August 20th 2007 04:30

Freezing their Butts and other bits off 600 swedish troopers climbed up a melting Glacier for Photographer Spencer Tunick and Greenpeace on the Weekend to raise awareness for Global Warming.
I'll have to say this makes some other attempts at raising Global warming awareness look rather feeble. When I first saw this article I was afraid for how cold their feet would have been, then I discovered in other shots they lay FACE DOWN in groups....OUCH OUCH OUCH....

Here's hoping there is some Photographers trick and they are holding at least one item of clothing away from the camera's, otherwise these people are HEROES......its not like they even get their faces in the Pap like celebrities, they are baring all for the cause anonymously.

Given the rivalry between Climate Change Believers and Climate Change Hoaxers you have to wonder what the Hoaxers will come up with next to raise awareness for their argument....no close ups PLEASE...this is about about all we can take and I think we are all stoked Al Gore isn't in these photo's he's stacked on a few Kg's lately and it may not be a pretty sight.

Here are some more images of those brave Ice Warriors from the Greenpeace Galcier Photo shoot on the weekend.

As they say a picture is worth a thousand words, I only have one OUCH

also here is the link to Greenpeace just in case you fell like supporting their Global Warming efforts.


LINK TO GREENPEACE
Cheers Louie

Photo's from greenpeace Website

Really Long Link

WHOONEARTHCARES: Cate Blanchett joins the Climate change campaign

Cate Blanchett was in qld yesterday to capmpaign for Climate Change and launch the new Australian Conservation Faoundation's campaign CLICK HERE to tell them you CARECLICK HERE You go online and register and answer a few questions and if you can be bothered send a pre-typed letter to your MP. I usually don't do this kind of stuff but have made an exception for a good cause this time, especially because they didn't ask for money........

I can be a bit cynical about the agenda of B grade celebrities jumping on the Climate Change bandwagon and the money to be made BUT I think in this case we can safely say Cate genuinely cares, she is Definitiely A list and ...........good on her for getting out there and not campaigning from some cushy studio somewhere. Here is the snippet. I am going to visit the link and give them some support.

Blanchett campaigns for climate change awareness

Posted Mon Aug 6, 2007 2:18pm AEST
Updated 4 hours 0 minutes ago


Hollywood star Cate Blanchett was in Brisbane today - not to promote a movie, but to encourage Queenslanders to become aware of the issues around climate change.

Blanchett visited the drought-ravaged Lake Samsonvale, north of Brisbane.

There she launched the Australian Conservation Foundation's new online campaign, whoonearthcares.com.

She says the campaign is about bringing people from all over the country together to work on climate change solutions.

"I think that the majority of Australians are beginning to realise that we can't hope to address the very real issues of water shortages and drought unless we significantly reduce Australia's spiralling greenhouse emissions," she said.

"Climate change is an issue that affects each and every one of us, and therefore it's up to each and every one of us to act responsibly and do something about it."

Bush Fire or spark in the right direction?

Bush Fire or spark in the right direction?

August 5th 2007 02:02

I guess its no surprise that Bush's recent invitation to the World's largest polluters has been greeted with audible eye rolling from the Greenies and Silent Groans from heads of State. Let's hope this is a spark in the right direction and not the beginning of the end for Global agreement on Climate Change.

The Greenies are frustrated as are the Heads of state that of course the moment Mr Bush wants to get on board the Green boat it has to be his boat, forget perfectly good upcoming global forums for discussion; APEC in September and the UN Conference in November; it has to be George W's idea and has to be in his sand pit.

All of a sudden going green is a good idea. Now this blog is groaning. This band wagon is getting mighty crowded with recent converts. I am not saying this is a bad thing, it should be a good thing except for the small detail of Politics and the fact that of course the Geroge W wants to reinvent this wheel. Forget that Eurpoe and the rest of the World- except for the U.S and Australia has been running with a perfectly good and successful system for quite some time now- we need a new one.

Maybe this is all a ploy for Bush to successfully avoid the issue at the APEC conference, maybe he isn't equiped to talk about this with the world leaders; he is merely giving a speech at the September 27/28 conference in Washington, Condoleze Rice is running the show; Does this totally scream of a man who doesn't know the subject and needs to be on familiar ground to deal with it, with a speech written by someone else?Tthis doesn't bother me except he is the leader of the Free world and this is the most important issue of our generation- still. You would like to think he would want to debate the topic every waking hour; and be able to.

Anyhow who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth, the end game here is that we need a solution for the sake of the Planet and future generations (love melodrama on a sunday mornming) let's hope the Greenies are wrong and the U.S. provides solutions not a whole heap of spanners in the very delecate works of the Treaty that is Kyoto and the system that is still taking baby steps towards a solution.

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Call for Climate Change Leadership

Article page 10 of the Fin review this morning.
I digress from yesterdays posts (I'll get back to it...) as there is an article in todays Fin Reveiw that is excellent reading if you want to get a handle on the lay of the land for the bigger picture in the Climate Change debate and where Australia sits.

As we know we are sadly behind the 8 ball globally but the rhetoric is beginning to really gain momentum which could bring us to a resolution. I hate politics but Johnny Howard should wake up to himself and kill this issue before the Election otherwise it could be the thorn in his side as many young Australians think this is the issue of our generation.

I am not sure if the Labor party would be too happy with their key business adviser saying " I think what has brought it home to Australians has been the drought, so thank God for the drought" as there might be a few farmers and the rest of the population who would resent this comment. But he made some very good points about the fact that the government needs to be more involved in the solutions via Regulation No-one can say what system is perfect but the European Cap and Trade system has ironed out its teething problems and should be the way to go if Australia wants to be on a level playing field. Sir Rod was right when he said the bsiness community needs a better lead from the Government. He stated there is a "real sea shift in the board...but I think we won't get the action we need until private boardroom discussions become public committments" "regulators provide the framework they don't provide the solutions, business can provide the solutions"

Another observation in the article by Nick rowley, Director of Kinesis is that we as a nation may have accepted Climate Change as an issue but we are yet to alter our behaviour. I personally this I think is a bit harsh, its not like we can all afford to run out and Buy a Hybrid car today, not all of us have the bank balance of Leonardo Di Caprio and the likes. He thinks the Govt should be forcing the choice through Carbon Taxes and levies, I DISAGREE entirely with this logic, taxes and the like will place far too great a burden on all of us.

Anyhow it is a good little article if you are interested in the progression of this issue.